Swiss rail licenses use of iconic clocks to Apple

GENEVA (AP) – Apple Inc. has struck a deal with Switzerland’s national rail company to license the use of its iconic station clocks for the iOS 6 operating system, which is used by iPhone and iPad mobile devices.

Swiss Federal Railways, or SBB, says the two parties have signed a licensing agreement, ending their dispute over Apple’s use of round clock faces with black indicators except for the second hand, which is red.

SBB had approached Apple to tell the company that it owned the clock design.

In a statement Friday, it said the deal’s terms including the amount of the licensing fee would remain confidential.

Engineer and designer Hans Hilfiker developed the SBB railway clock in 1944.

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